December is a festive month to exchange gifts and to enjoy family and friends. Give the Gift of Health with Microlingual® tablets from Superior Source—they make great stocking stuffers! Now it’s FUN to take vitamins with NO PILLS to SWALLOW!

With over 180 vitamins, there are vitamins for everyone, young old and every need. Best of all, Superior Source Vitamins are MicroLingual® with“Under the Tongue Technology” that works fast, and are quickly absorbed into the body, dissolving in seconds. Did you know that...by swallowing supplements, as much as 50% of the potency is lost in the high acid environment of the stomach? It's true! With Superior Source, this is never, ever an issue.

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

With 2018 rapidly approaching, a lot of us are making New Year's Resolutions. Some want to get fit....Some want to achieve goals like buying a home or landing their dream job.

For me, my goals this year are a lot simpler. I just want to look and feel my best, as well as finally learn how to pamper myself, as this is something that has been seriously lacking in my life.

After The Doctors TV Show gave me my miracle makeover, I am finally feeling confident, for the first time...Well....Ever, really. In 2018, I will be focused on learning how to shine rather than trying to be as invisible as possible.

One easy way to step up my beauty game is to finally do something with my hair. I recently colored it purple, which was a huge risk but a success as well, and I am finally learning how to style beyond the sloppy ponytail or messy bun. Those looks aren't too glamorous, and definitely don't scream confidence.

​Thankfully, I recently learned about Lilla Rose Flexi Clips. Jamie Helton, one of Lilla Rose's prized consultants, was generous enough to send me some fabulous hair accessories that would promise to take me from drab to fab in seconds.

Smack! Bam! Pow! Batman Ornament Giveaway

Hosted and Sponsored by Tom's Take On Things

Prize: Batman Batcopter Christmas Ornament

Here is a Christmas Ornament that you can win to put on your tree next year. Who says you have to put it on your tree? Maybe you just might want to display it on your desk. Tom over at Tom's Take On Things is a huge Batman fan and wants to share the love with all of you as well.

Who is your favorite Batman? Is it Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale or Ben Affleck?
Open to the U.S. Only, 18 years of age or older. Tom's Take On Things is responsible for prize delivery. Blogs helping promote this giveaway were not compensated in any way. Giveaway ends 1/5/2018 at 11:59 pm.

We have teamed up with Bloggin' Mamas and My Little Pony: The Movie for this amazing giveaway. My daughter, Sophie, loves My Little Pony, so I know the movie will be awesome!
Today, December 19th the digital copy of My Little Pony: The Movie was released! Stay tuned for the Blu-Ray and On Demand release on January 9th, 2018. Check out this super cool hairstyle that Heather from Bloggin' Mamas styled on her daughter's hair! This is a look based on Applejack, a braided ponytail! So much fun re-creating this look and it's so adorable. You can re-create this hairstyle too, using the below tutorial!

#PonytailTuesday Hairstyle Challenge!

Applejack Braided Pony Style How-To:

Applejack loves to be outside. She’s honest, friendly and sweet to the core! Her friends know they can always count on her and her honesty. Her affinity towards hair accessories inspired this look. One of Snip-its Haircuts for Kids’ favorite party styles, the “One Trick Pony” gets upgraded when 3 color streaks are added. Great for party and play, your little princess will love this look and the pony who inspired it.

What You’ll Need:

Comb

A handful of bobby pins

2 – plastic binders

Colored Hair Chalk (3 different colors)

Snip-its Tangle Tamer Detangling Spray

Snip-its Morning Miracle Mousse Styling Spray

Snip-its Amazin’ Spray & Stay Hairspray

Applejack Braided Pony Styling Tips:

Start with clean, detangled hair. Snip-its Tangle Tamer is a quick, easy and tear-free solution to any tangles and snarls.

Part off a triangle section in the front and top section of the hair and pin this hair out of your way.

Take the remainder of the hair and put it in a high ponytail with a plastic binder.

Now take the hair out of the triangle section and apply the hair chalk to this section before doing a loose, 3-strand braid—finishing with another plastic binder.

Apply a spritz of Snip-its Amazin’ Spray & Stay Hairspray just to the top braided section to seal in the color.

Attach this braid to the ponytail, wrapping it around the plastic band, and attaching with a few bobby pins underneath.

Take just the top section of the ponytail and divide it into 3-equal parts.

Add a different hair chalk color streak to each of the divided, top section parts—one color per divided, top section part. TIP: Repeating the color you used in the braid for the middle section, will make it look like one color streak continuing all the way through the style.

Teasing the ponytail a bit from underneath shows of the color more. Use Snip-its Morning Miracle Mousse Styling spray to create the desired look and eliminate any flyaways.

Finish by sealing the color with a few pumps of Snip-its Amazin’ Spray & Stay Hairspray.

Hair Chalk Tips:

Kid-friendly hair chalk lasts 3 or 4 days. It’s temporary enough to switch up the colors and designs frequently – your little ones can use their imagination and express themselves without any permanency.

Wetting the section of hair you’re going to color will help enhance the hue and get more chalk into the hair shaft.

Seal in the chalk with hairspray to get the longest lasting color.

Protective clothing and plastic gloves will help keep the color off you whilst applying. It will also easily wash off with soap and water if you do get any on you.

Stop by a Snip-its salon to meet our Kids Hair Experts and learn about trends, how-tos and the perfect hair care for your kiddos. We Speak Kid and can’t wait for your little one’s Haircut Adventure to begin.

Now for the Giveaway!

I’m so excited to team up with Bloggin' Mamas, and a few other great bloggers to bring you a giveaway for this amazing giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a My Little Pony: The Movie Prize pack valued at $500! Here's what's included:

Open to US residents, 18 and up Void where prohibited One entrant per email/IP address If you’re chosen you have 48 hours to claim your prize or another winner will be chosen. Win­ner will be selected by Random.org and be noti­fied by email See Give­away Tools wid­get below for full terms & conditions. Giveaway begins 12/19/2017 at 5pm EST and ends 1/8/2018 at 11:59pm EST.

Disclosure: Giveaway begins December 19th, 2017 at 5:00 pm and ends January 9th, 2018 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to US residents age 18 and older. One (1) Mystery Box of My Little Pony The Movie Prizes valued at $500 will be awarded to one (1) winner. Total ARV of $500 per prize pack. Winners will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. Winners have until January 9th, 2018 at 11:59pm EST to respond or forfeit their prize. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, and Google are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to Heather Lopez Enterprises LLC. We do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

So, how has your 2017 been? Personally, I'm ready to wash my hair of it and welcome in a brand new year.

Speaking of the upcoming New Year and the washing of hair, why not ring in 2018 with a bold, brilliant new look? There's nothing more renewing than a cut, color, and change of pace. I recently went purple, and I am loving it! I'll be keeping my current color for awhile, but once it fades, I think I may try something I swore I'd never do: Going Blonde!

I'm pretty sure I won't look good Blonde. My coloring isn't ideal for it. I won't even pretend it is. I'm the type that is willing to try most anything once, twice if I like it. When the time to boldly go blonde, I already know my go-to products. These come from 2 brands I absolutely adore, and trust for my hair care needs: Splat Hair Color and ColorProof Hair Care.

You're probably familiar with Splat. Splat offers a wide range of super fun colors, like Crimson Obsession, Aqua Rush, and Ombre Love, just to name a few. They also offer a Lightening Bleach Kit, which will give that Bombshell Blonde we all know so well!

ColorProof Color Care Authority is a complete line of professional luxury products designed exclusively for color-treated hair. These next generation formulas combine the latest innovations in ingredient technology with best-in-class ingredients to create a new standard in color care.

This post is sponsored by Icelandic+™ and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Icelandic+™ and their all-natural dog chews and treats, but Newly Crunchy by Brandy Nelson only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Icelandic+™ is not responsible for the content of this article.

Recently, I jumped on the DNA testing bandwagon. The kits were on sale, and I spent almost my entire life not knowing fully where I came from. Most of my results were expected: I already knew I had English, Irish, and Eastern European. Balkan results weren't too much of a shock, either.

What DID come as a surprise? Well, a couple of things: For one, I am about 5% Ashkenazi Jew. I had absolutely no clue, as none of the family I know are religious or culturally practicing Jews. This was a big shock, and very neat to learn.

The other, more substantial shock was that I am over 25% Scandinavian. Now I don't know about you, but I always envisioned people from this background as being very fair, maybe blonde with blue eyes. I have neither. Still, more than a quarter of my background belongs to a region arguably believed to be the happiest, healthiest, and most prosperous on Earth.

So what makes Scandinavian countries, such as Iceland, the bee's knees? For one, their food production standards are incredibly high, and they offer pure, natural, and unspoiled foods, even for our pets! When I learned about the natural, holistic dog treats from Icelandic+™, I couldn't wait to try them. After all, shouldn't Trouble get a taste of her Mommy's possible homeland?

Icelandic+ is committed to producing healthy dog treats that meet their specific digestive, physiological, metabolic, and nutritional requirements. They have an in-house physiologist and nutritionist to make sure that their products are healthy, nutritionally appropriate and safe.

We received an assortment of Icelandic+ Lamb Horn Dog Treats as well as their Icelandic Cod Fish Skin Rolls to check out for ourselves. The first thing I noticed about these treats is that they are truly pure and natural. They look exactly like what they are, with minimal processing or additives.

100% Pure Icelandic+™ Cod Skin Rolls are single ingredient and contain no additives, preservatives or supplements. They come only from the pure icy waters of Iceland and are line-caught daily and processed immediately. Not only are they delicious for your dog, they reduce tartar and plaque build-up for healthier gums and teeth. They are also a great natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids, promoting healthy skin and coat for your pet. With just one ingredient, these tasty and healthy treats are perfect for dogs with protein sensitivities. These 100% natural, edible fish products offer peace of mind, as they are cleaned and air-dried within FDA, USDA, EU, and MAST standards and regulations. Because Iceland almost never gets warm, these fish always remain cold after being caught. As a result, they have less smell than other fish treats in the market.

Trouble really loves these fishy snacks, and I love that they're 100% digestible and easy on her tummy. The Omega-3 fatty acids from fish are also super healthy for pets, which I love as a pet parent.

Trouble also loves her Icelandic+™ Small Lamb Horns. These come in a variety of natural colors and range from 4 - 4.7 inches in length. The Icelandic+™ Small Lamb Horn is great for small breeds and puppies. The Horn acts as a natural teether for puppies that have that constant need to chew - give them a Horn instead of your shoe!

You can also soak the horn in warm water to help soften it for puppies and older dogs with sensitive teeth.

Another perk? These Lamb Horns promote good dental care for our pups!

Please note: The Icelandic+ Lamb Horn is a natural chew that helps your dog’s gums to be “brushed” as it is made of thousands of small fibers. If your dog’s teeth are not regularly brushed, you may experience some gum bleeding with their first Horn. This is natural and is actually a benefit as the Horn’s fibers are “scrubbing" the gum line. With continued use and additional Horns, you will see a remarkable difference in the health of your dog’s gum line and whiter teeth. People who do not floss similarly experience gum bleeding when they first start and the bleeding stops when gum health improves from flossing, as will happen with your dog. Both you and your veterinarian will be pleased with the change in gum health and appearance of teeth over time.

Overall, I am tickled pink to see my pup enjoying this Icelandic+ change of pace. I've been on such a kick learning about my newly discovered heritage, so it absolutely delights me to be able to experience a small taste of Iceland with my favorite canine companion. She loves them, and as a pet owner, I love knowing these are of supreme quality since they're pure and natural. It just doesn't get much better than that!Connect with Icelandic+ : For more information, please check out the Icelandic+ website. Be sure to check out their handy retail locator to find products online and near you.

You can also connect with Icelandic+ on Facebook, on twitter, and on Instagram to stay on top of their latest news, products, and promotions.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Icelandic+™. The opinions and text are all mine.

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

Did you know that 1 in 3 kids in the United States is either overweight or obese? This is due to a lot of different factors, such as lack of physical activity in an increasingly digital age, and of course, diets that leave a lot to be desired. ​Vegy Vida is the newest product to market offering a solution to the issue of unhealthy eating. The first and only dip made especially for kids, Vegy Vida contains a proprietary all-natural cucumber extract that softens the flavor of veggies for kids, who have three times the taste buds of adults and therefore are more sensitive to vegetables and other foods.

Welcome to the

Thank You For Being My Friend Giveaway

Hosted and Sponsored by Tom's Take On Things

Tom from Tom's Take On Things just wants to be generous and host a giveaway for all of you to have a chance to win a gift card in the upcoming Holiday Season. So who is your best friend? All we want to know is what you are buying your best friend for Christmas or the Holiday? In the meantime, you have a chance to win this $25 GameStop Gift Card that you could end up giving to your best friend. If not, keep it for yourself and buy you something you want for Christmas. It's ok, we don't judge!

Blogs helping promote this giveaway were not compensated for this post.

Be sure to come back daily for extra entries to win this great prize! Good Luck!

***Disclosure: Entenmann’s® Little Bites® provided me with coupons to redeem product and a gift card so that you could share your thoughts and information about Entenmann’s® Little Bites® products with you all. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

Now that the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season is upon us, we've had so many things to do that our heads are spinning, and we're definitely feeling the countdown to Christmas here.

Sophie and Xander, my younger 2 kids, are both homeschooled. Well, sort of. They're enrolled in the K12 program, which is technically public school, but experienced in a virtual, at home environment. So, just like at any school, they have classmates and a handful of teachers they interact with every day. They just get to do so in their pajamas if they want to.

Every year, we send small gifts and cards to the K12 staff. You know, things like bath and body products, gift cards to office supply stores, or even restaurant gift cards. It's always important for us to show the kids' teachers how appreciated they are.

This year, the kids wanted to fill out their own Christmas cards. They wanted to have a bigger part now that they can read and write fairly well, so we decided to have a Christmas Card party! We filled out cards, wrapped gifts, and even munched on some delicious, seasonal Entenmann’s® Little Bites® Butter Cookie Muffins.

​***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

It's that time of year, everyone! The Holiday shopping season is upon us! (At least it is if you're like me and get an early start to avoid the mad rush of frazzled, last-minute shoppers in December!)

For the 2017 Holiday season, I will be featuring tons of great gift ideas for babies, kids, men, women, pets, and even for the person who has everything. We all have some of those on our gift lists, don't we? There will even be loads and loads of chances to win many of the gifts I am featuring. How cool is that?! You can check out my 2017 Holiday Gift Guide at any time from now till Christmas. Make sure to check often, as it will be growing by the day!

Today, I want to talk about something that would make a great stocking stuffer for...well... pretty much everyone on your gift list this season: DirtyBird Energy Soaps! DirtyBird Energy is dedicated to creating products to help productivity for active, busy lifestyles. Whether it is at the office, during a workout, or raising children, they want to help everyone be at their best and most productive! Each DirtyBird Energy Bar is infused with ingredients to help achieve this goal. DirtyBird Energy Soaps come in 3 varieties…RELAX, RECOVER & of course…ENERGY bars.

PR Friendly Mama!

I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud mama of two munchkins and a teen. You can read more about me HERE. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com